This is the VANCOUVER BIRD ALERT for Saturday, Nov. 18, 2000, 8:30 p.m.
edition.

Species mentioned:

Tufted Duck [Iona]
Hooded Merganser [Lost Lagoon]
Northern Goshawk [Reifel]
American Kestrel [Sea Island]
Virginia Rail [Stanley Park]
Willet [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Semipalmated Sandpiper [Roberts Bank]
Barn Owl [Reifel]
Long-eared Owl [Reifel]
Short-eared Owl [Reifel]
Great Horned Owl [Deas Island, Lafarge Lake, Reifel]
SNOWY OWL [ 72nd BB, Reifel, Sea Island]
Barred Owl [Reifel]
Northern Saw-whet Owl [Reifel]
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) [Deas Island]
Barn Swallow [Iona]
American Dipper [Coquitlam River Park, Green Timbers Park]
White-throated Sparrow [Reifel]
Swamp Sparrow [Iona, Reifel]
Snow Bunting [Tsawwassen Jetty]
Western Meadowlark [Iona]
Yellow-headed Blackbird [Serpentine Fen]

The Feature Birds are SEMIPALMATED PLOVER and YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD.

The BAR-TAILED GODWIT had not been reported since Nov. 13. Has anyone seen
it more recently? Please let the Bird Alert know, as out-of- town birders
are still interested in finding it.

Sightings for Saturday, Nov. 18:

Three late SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were on the north side of the Roberts Bank
coalport jetty.

A male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was at Serpentine Fen, with a flock of mixed
blackbirds, along the path that parallels Hwy. #99.

Two GREAT-HORNED OWLS were in Deas Island Regional Park, along the Dyke Loop
and Island Tip Trails.

A VIRGINIA RAIL was near the south end of the Stone Bridge, in Stanley Park.

Friday, November 17

A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was at Reifel Refuge. Still at Reifel, 2 BARRED
OWLS were along the entrance road.

A GREAT-HORNED OWL was at Lafarge Park, Coquitlam; 2 AMERICAN DIPPERS were
on the bank of the Coquitlam River, in North Coquitlam Park.

The TUFTED DUCK was at Iona's Outer Pond, and the SWAMP SPARROW was on the
outside of the "corridor", between the northwest pond and the outer ponds,
near the small gate.

Two SWAMP SPARROWS were at Reifel Refuge, near the west end of the north
dyke path.

The WILLET was on the south side of the Tsawwassen ferry jetty. Along the
rough gravel roadway on the south side of the ferry jetty were 7 SNOW
BUNTINGS.

Thursday, Nov. 16:

A SNOWY OWL was on the Boundary Bay foreshore, between the foot of 72 St.
and 88 St., at 7:45 a.m.

The immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen at Reifel Refuge. Still at Reifel, an
adult SWAMP SPARROW was near the observation tower.

A TUFTED DUCK, believed to be an immature male, was on the Outer Pond at
Iona Island, and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK was in the grassy area just beyond the
north gate of the main parking lot.

An AMERICAN DIPPER was at Green Timbers park, north Surrey, on the shore of
the lake, at 4 p.m.

An AMERICAN KESTREL was on Sea Island near the large fuel tanks.

A GREAT-HORNED OWL was in Deas Island Regional Park, along the Island Tip
Trail; a yellow-shafted form of NORTHERN FLICKER was also in the vicinity.

Wednesday, Nov. 15:

Two NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, an adult and an immature, were at Reifel Refuge. A
SNOWY OWL has been present for 2 days. A total of 7 species of owl are being
seen at the refuge: SNOWY, GREAT-HORNED, LONG-EARED, SHORT-EARED, NORTHERN
SAW-WHET, BARRED and BARN.

At Iona this morning, the immature SWAMP SPARROW was relocated in vegetation
along the "corridor", outside the west fence, near the gate. Unexpected,
over the Outer Pond, was a late BARN SWALLOW.

One GREAT-HORNED OWL was at Lafarge Lake, Coquitlam.

Nine HOODED MERGANSERS were among the waterfowl on Lost Lagoon.

Tuesday, Nov. 14

A SNOWY OWL was on the Sea Island foreshore, near the south end of the
Sea/Iona Island causeway, at 4p.m. This may be the bird was that was seen
yesterday opposite the horse farm on Ferguson Road.

END TRANSCRIPT

To report a sighting to the Bird Alert, call 737-3074. Visit our website at
www.naturalhistory.bc.ca.